Suspected bandits have reportedly attacked the palace of a traditional ruler in Olayinka community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting the monarch, his wife, and one other person in the early hours of Saturday.
According to sources who spoke to newsmen, the armed men stormed the palace around 1:40 a.m., firing sporadically before taking the royal father to an unknown destination.
“Yes. At Olayinka at about 1 am. His wife and one other person were also abducted. The Monarch is one of the recently graded.”
Another source added, “The bandits invaded the palace around 1:40 a.m. on Saturday. They came heavily armed and took the monarch away without resistance because everyone was terrified.”
The abducted monarch was said to have been recently elevated and officially installed by the Kwara State Government earlier this year, a development that has made the incident particularly shocking to residents.
The attack is the third reported case of a traditional ruler being kidnapped in Kwara South within a year. In 2025, two monarchs in the region were abducted by suspected bandits and were only released after ransom payments were made.